Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;DLFSALM2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSALM2’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform flowering habit; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFSALM2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘DLFSALM2’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Delisalma’, not patented. Thenew Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Delisalma’ in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in June,2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFSALM2’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFSALM2’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.

2. Dark green-colored leaves.

3. Uniform flowering habit.

4. Strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a single-stem(disbudded) cut flower.

5. Large decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored rayflorets.

6. Relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. chrysanthemi andVerticillium dahliae.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFSALM2’ grown as adisbud-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheen (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view oflower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper (bottom of thephotographic sheet) surfaces of typical inflorescences (left) and leaves(right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in ground beds in aglass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plantswere initially given long day/short night treatments followed by shortday/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and lightlevels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem disbud-typeplants and were ten weeks old when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFSALM2’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum    x morifolium ‘Delisalma’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve            days at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two            weeks at temperatures about 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a single stem disbud-type;            upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate to            rapid growth rate.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.    chrysanthemi and Verticillium dahliae. To date, plants of the new    Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to plants grown under commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘DLFSALM2’ as illustrated and described.